Sunday, May 29, 2011

brunch buffets & bumps

don't mingle so well

a girl wants to indulge in all the delights of such an affair but between her organs and the 7 3/4 month fetus inside her, there's simply not room. i tried my damnedest to pace myself, get up and walk around a bit, eat small bites, but there's simply no more room in there. woe is me. will be nice to have my insides back. oh the decadence i'll bask in...

today i'm 31 weeks. WOW.today i'm not entirely thrilled i gained another 3 lbs.there's a certain number in my head, that if i creep up to, i'll need a straight jacket.i'm healthy, baby is healthy. all that is important. i know i know i know.but the scale is my bloody nemesis.my other bloody nemesis, a greater one, by leaps & bounds?my dear dear mom's poor luck when it comes to health.as if she didn't have ENOUGH on her plate battling the utterly B.S. disease that isALS,she's been in the hospital now, for a week dealing with gall stones and two gall bladder related surgeries that have been so hard on her. as anyone can imagine, this weighs extremely hard on me. if you're a pray-er. please pray for her. whatEVER it is you do, to lift a person up, please do it!i thank you from the bottom of my heart.in other fun new symptom news... the second my stomach nears hunger i get heartburn! and must, like a bat out of hell, find something snacky to pop in my mouth. this should work wonders where the scale is concerned. grrr.CONVERSELY,having met with my other ob/gyn doctor yesterday, i've been given the green light toKEEP WORKING OUT. nothing crazy of course, but staying active, as i've been born to do, is GOOD GOOD GOOD and encouraged. post-appointment last night, the german and i took a nice long beach walk. i don't putz down the shore either. i MOVE. and it feels GOOD. and i am SO HAPPY this is encouraged.as are my ipod-blasting treadmill walks. YAY. she also said i've had such an unremarkable pregnancy, which, in this case, is awesome to hear. i truly prefer remarkable in everything else, but in as far as this goes. that's good. here's hoping it stays that way!happy long weekend to you all.

Truly expected to hear women freaking out the moment we entered the maternity wing of the hospital. but all we really saw were dads. happy, exhausted, shell shocked dads. new moms must have been tucked away in their rooms with new babies. freaking out (if they're anything like me). holy surreal.

very very vocal breast feeding advocate guide told us the hospital food at THIS hospital is REALLY good. that her parents ASK to come & eat there.

my 1st question: we CAN bring in our own eats, right?

then the tour chick took us into a typical room. sure, i've been in one of these rooms prior, but not with the purpose of seeing where i myself would be soon. i hadn't taken note of the style of bed in such a room (yeah those aren't arm rests). the rolling baby bed, any of it.

and speaking of that baby bed, she seemed to think we shouldn't use it all that much while there. that we should have the baby laying on us for temperature regulation almost ALL the time. somebody is going to be CRABBY if that's the case. yes, yes, in love. but CRABBY.

the tour guide said they'd gone out of their way to make such rooms homey and hotel like. uh, WHAT hotel? putty walls aren't homey, lady. nor is one piece of horribly framed "art". at least there was a window. i'd die without a window.

she said on average, we'd be in the delivery room 12-15 hours at most. then, once all was totally stable, moved to a regular room in the maternity ward.

wonder if any of my readers have experience with bringing a baby home to a dog that has a major issue with kids?

lily = that dog. and i foresee poor little L getting nicked or chomped when he tries to play with the fluffy moving white toy staring at him. i know a lot of you would be livid. i've heard of people that have gotten rid of such dogs, but lily is going on 14 years old, and she's been tugged on to the point of tears by a feisty child a few too many times. her tolerance is nil. and i love the stuffing out of lily. so... my thoughts are, just keep them as separated as possible. and pray lily feels differently about my own little wee one. fat chance though. again, LOVE to hear your experiences. PLEASE log in & leave your comments below. in other news...

Friday, May 20, 2011

i just bought tickets to a showerrr, make that a festival. on august 25th.let's take a moment to do some simple math.due date: july 29th.festival date, as stated: august 25th.that makes L just shy of 4 weeks old if L ison time, as all (more than 1/2) germansshould be...but. you. just. never. know.does that make me certifiable? perhaps.but world, music is my heart.and while i KNOW my life is on the vergeof being drastically turned upside down,i have to TRY to still be me.to still fuel my passions.

and, well, i already need a babysitter.for a child not yet born.on a weekday.self sabotage, anyone?we'll see how this pans out...hopefully, like 15 years from now,teenager L is going to think his momwas pretty cool for going to a dance music festivalsuper shortly after he was born.after all, he'll know that he DID go to Ultra whenhe was a 5 1/2 month old fetus.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Good Lordthis makes me feel better.Even though it's a little gross.all told, that's 27 1/2 pounds,what a fabulous thing to stumble upon in a magi haphazardly picked up at the doctor's office.you gotta love that stored fat and fluid retention are factored in.those lbs have absolutely nothing to do with chocolate chip cookiesand chocolate-covered marzipan. nope, they sure don't.and L thanks me on the regular for gobbling up such, byputting on a little dance in therewithin minutes of me indulging.just thought this little diagram was interesting& worth sharing for those behind meforced to step upon a scale & watch it climbalmost mysteriously for 40 weeks straight.;-)

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

BUMP NEWSso yeah, getting out of das auto's bucket seats is a b@#!h.as is getting out of bed. as if that weren't hard already.have gotten giggled at for both recently by a certain german who will remain unnamed. hmm...i literally keep running into things WITH my stomach as my depth perception is jacked, no joke. obviously not used to having this hard tummy sticking out getting in the way of all. GOD HELP ME.got prescribed a heavy-duty iron pill this week too, as the person within the bump has decided to soak up all the iron i intake for himself. smart kid.but as a result, i'm dragging @$$.i AM still working out, albeit, light cardio. nevertheless it feels great and i'll do it until i can't.this week's food focus has been high volumes of fruit and vegetables in forms that don't bore me to death. this includes pie and frozen yogurt shakes. ;-)a girl absolutely deserves some form of reward when she's growing a mass in her stomach already. yes, yes! a cute, cuddly mass. :-)

when someone asks me how far along i am they must think i'm an idiot. i generally just sit there and stare back at them, unsure. if i'm online i go to this one site that tells me with these little tickers. no it's not "pregnancy brain". that concept annoys me. i've never been good at telling you how long ago something happened, what day of the month it is, etc. 40 weeks are A LOT of weeks to keep track of.time's flying AND dragging. it's the strangest thing.at the same time i feel so ready AND ill prepared.& we ARE taking a tour of the hospital this sunday evening, so i kid you not, i'm proud i got that scheduled. so wish i could take a xanax before said tour. ;-) something tells me it's going to make me freak out and realize how very real all of this is... and i ABHOR hospitals.L's punching me right now, he knows i'm loosely talking about him.feeeeeels awesome.

Monday, May 16, 2011

i think it's safe to say,i'm starting to feel miserable.i suppose the timing is right, i'll be 30 weeks this friday.sitting upright feels awkward, no, make that flat out uncomfortable, miss sitting cross-legged (formerly known as Indian style, when we weren't so PC), i miss crossing my legs. I'm utterly sick of the bathroom at both my house and place of work because i'm spending far too much time in each. the middle-of-the-night desperate dashes to the loo are growing more frequent. my ribs ache, especially in the afternoon, when i wish i could have the lower two on each side removed before HE removes them for me. and you know about that little bout with my ankle last week. i feel ridiculously rundown (which makes sense, i just learned L's sucking up all my iron) and and and... yeah, it's my blog and i'll bitch if i want to.i know. i know. i never had to hug the toilet. my nose still looks the same and so far my shoe size hasn't gone up. yeah, yeah, i've foregone a lot of the "joys" others of you have been subjected to on this 40 week journey, and i KNOW it's all for a fabulous, beautiful, darling little cause.but i want to hit fast forward.i want to catapult myself into the next phase of fun, which a lot of you have already begun to describe to me in sometimes graphic detail. at that point, as horrid as it some of the new set of physical oddities might be, at least i'll have baby L here to enjoy.thanks for allowing me this rant.am going to make up for it with beautiful little shower photos, OK?

Friday, May 13, 2011

HICCUPS HAPPENthe last 24 hours haven't been my fave in this interesting little journey.hiccups happen, and the internet and stick-to-the-script-legal-action-fearing on-call doctors are by no means helpful in such cases.

yesterday afternoon a friend and i were discussing going for pedicures together next week, i happened to look down at my toes and gasped, not at my toes in need of a nice spa treatment but at my puffed up left ankle. yep, swollen ankles during pregnancy are normal. but, one swollen ankle kind of isn't.

fortunately it's the end of the day when i notice this so i drive home sans shoes, then hit the couch the moment i reach my house and get my feet elevated. then, the online search ensues and i'm almost convinced that i'm either experiencing preeclampsia or a blood clot. neither of which sound so lovely. i scold myself for consulting the web. my mom calls, and genuinely puts me at ease, but, i decide to, just as a precaution, call my dr. and have them assure me all is well too. i tell myself this will be my ticket to a good night sleep.YEAH. RIGHT. i have the on-call dr paged, she calls me back with an attitude right out of the gate. AND i feel like i'm talking to someone reading from a script, or an automated voice.

she repeats what i tell her verbatim, then says, "well since your doctor's office is closed my best advice is to go to the ER." "the ER?! really? i mean i'm not in pain, and my foot is normal colored, doesn't look like a balloon and i'm keeping it elevated, you don't think waiting until the morning to feel things out would be OK?" "Legally speaking, I'm telling you that since your doctor's office is closed you should go to the ER." -You said that already.- "Great OK, thanks for your help." click.

i'm not going to the ER. i keep my foot elevated for the remainder of the night. avoid sodium, stay hydrated. then go to bed, where i experience a hellacious night sleep. thanks computerized dr. foot/ankle look quite a bit better this a.m. i wear flip flops (with a wedge heel, mind you) to work. and call my REAL dr. right when i get there. her office tells me to take it easy for a couple days, drink plenty of fluids, keep it elevated when i can and call them next week if it worsens... let's hope it doesn't. being still. taking it easy. keeping my feet up. these are like death sentences to me.

it's so weird to wish that both ankles were swollen. THAT, is normal. whatever normal is... stay tuned.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

hmm, when i was a kid i totally wanted deceptive wooden chocolates. and a wooden bunch of carrots even more. NOT. what the hell?but, if i were a baby boy, i think -i might- dig the stuff below (thus, it's shipping to me in the near future). yep, am admittedly green about all this but i'd venture to guess i will appreciate having a myriad of such toys to shove in L's hands when he's inconsolable. i can hear the german now, "we don't need this stuff!" but i'm quite confident we will, so it all might as well be cute. and to better my argument, made in germany. stumbled upon HABA on zulily today.

The Boobs & Bump are Neck and Neckand i have to say, i'm not thrilled about this fierce competition they've got going on, to be the biggest, to stand out the most. they're making a spectacle of me. and i really feel like the boobs should just give up, because we all know the bump's going to win out in the end. i'd kill to be of a culture and mindset where such cartoonish curves were warmly welcomed. but of course, and just my luck, i personally covet the long and lean silhouette. & the way in which fashion drapes upon it. damn you twiggy. kate moss. grrr. oh & p.s. i'm hungry again. which isn't helping.;-)

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

WHY THE DISCONNECT?am having a devil of a time connecting the chubby cheeked, full lipped little being in the photos and witnessed during the actual live action experience i had last thursday with the jarring kicks and punches and rolling sensations coming from within me on a regular basis.last night i took a few moments to just stare at those strangely hued photos and i actually felt my arms go numb. a connection was beginning to form. i was starting to really connect it all. i was on the verge of tearing up. of really seeing little liam inside me, growing. but today, am back at square one. WHY?what's my damage?i freaking LOVE ultrasounds, but am wondering if i'm STILL seeing them as television. not processing that they are a window into my uterus.it's kind of thrilling every time he makes a scene inside me the second i get horizontal, but again, am not connecting his little face with this.do i make sense?is it really going to take baby L being born for me to GET THIS?man, i'm dense. i'm a newbie. i have issues with believing what i can't tangibly see.whoa.

Monday, May 9, 2011

SATURDAYMORNING SWIRLS &STRIPESI can't stop crafting & creating little things for baby L. Saturday morning, as I sipped my chai I painted these swirly initials that I plan to hang on his door in a loose plaid pattern. I have to wonder if all of this stuff will eventually annoy him or if he'll actually dig it. Am sincerely hoping for a boy much like my little bro and the german, that has a sensitive side and appreciates art, music, etc. Oh & that genuinely feels bad for residing directly on top of my bladder for so many months straight. ;-)

3DBABY LMEET& GREETLast Thursday we got an opportunity to "meet" with baby L in 3D for a good 35-40 minutes. And, like his father AND mother, he was quite stubborn at 1st. I refuse to say shy, I don't believe our little monster will be shy—after all, where would he get that from? Anyway, for the 1st several minutes he covered his face. I laughed. The ultrasound tech seemed to get a little frustrated. She had me down two cups of ice water, walk around a bit, then get back on the table and see if he'd decided to quit hiding.

Sunday, May 8, 2011

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAYit's so strange that on this very day, next year, i'll have an almost 10 month old little liam.

that said, today i honor my own mother. she is, and has been, a mother to MANY. for the last 35 years she has been an art teacher, loved and cherished by what? thousands? of children. she's doled out hugs, wisdom, knowledge, praise and love to student after student, after student. she is LOVE. and she IS loved. dearest mom, happy, happy mother's day. i adore you and respect you so very much. and pray for you endlessly. you are so dear. i will do all i can to be as amazing a mom as you have been to jamey & i. LOVE YOU!

Saturday, May 7, 2011

THE TAKEOVER HAS BEGUN

there goes the neighborhood, my house is verging on looking like a babies r us warehouse. i am shaken, frightened, disturbed. i fought this for so very long. and yet, it's happening anyway. like a landslide, baby L, not even here yet, has unabashedly taken over.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

You Have 15 minutes MAX to Drink This -All 10 lemony limey ounces? Only 15 minutes? Am a chugger for Godsake, I'll down it in 15 seconds. Done. And now I wait. Its so bloody hot in my OB/Gyn's office. Am trying to focus on writing fall headlines for work but I feel like I'm in a sauna. And L is getting his groove on in my stomach to When Doves Cry #nowplaying in this humid hell. Not complaining, probably my fave Prince song. But I digress.

Next up its pee in a cup time, for a girl that hits the loo on the half hour at minimum, sudden stage fright happens when i'm forced to go in a cup i've just written my name on. but i get it done.

then, the dreaded scale. Oh awesome, I think I now weigh more than I ever have. The walls are thin and I overhear the patient in the room next to mine exclaim "I'm gaining weight like ridiculous!" I hear you, lovey, ha, no, I really do and I feel your pain perhaps too much. to make matters even more fun, the dr. then measures the growth of my stomach.

Back in the boiler room, err, waiting room, michael jackson's playing. L's jumping and rolling about to the music (Don't stop 'til you get enough). Or the sugar, rather. Am now awaiting the absolute pleasure of giving up three vials of blood & a fun 'you have the wrong blood type' injection. YAY!

when did i become such a sissy? tattoos, piercings, i never flinched. but that shot hurt like a b!@#$. this doesn't bode well for what's going down in a couple months. i need to toughen up. fast.

i get the HECK out of there the second i can, and with my proverbial tail between my legs, bolt to starbucks. this little girl needs a post-doctor-visit-with-shots-and-bloodwork treat. girl at starbucks drive-thru sees my double-band aided arm and frowns. i milk it a bit. then drive away with my chai. one appointment down, one more to go late this afternoon.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

L's Room Revisited.OMG, already getting messy!i vow to be organized.somehow.just thought you might like to see more photos of it as it takes shape.gains fabulous contributions from people that love him already...

Oh & happy mother's day, mommies out there! each day i'm gaining more & more appreciation/understanding/ respect for you guys!♥

Monday, May 2, 2011

Crafting LOVE for baby L...

at my most recent shower, when asked, i begged "please! no games!" and rushed to come up with an alternative activity for all the guests to participate in. ding ding ding! a collective scrapbook, with individually crafted pages from all who attended, featuring heartfelt messages for Liam. the end result was so amazing. and it seems everyone had a killer time making their page, not a single arm had to be twisted! each page has been slid in its own sleeve & the book now resides in Liam's room. someday it will be so special to share each charming design and loving message with liam. because he IS going to be a sensitive boy that appreciates such things...did i mention how much i ADORE my friends?